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To evaluate the association between clinical and socio-demographic status and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in stroke survivors age 40 and older in the Korean population.
The relationship between stroke and HR-QoL was investigated using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), conducted from 2007–2012. The total number of respondents was 24,050 and 757 stroke survivors were included. Specifically, we investigated factors associated with the lowering of HR-QoL in a group of Korean adult stroke patients age 40 and older after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, and clinical comorbidities. Adjusted effects of covariates on EuroQol-visual analog scales (EQ-VAS) scores were estimated with a complex-samples general linear model and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of the lowest quintile versus highest quintile of the EQ-VAS scores in the stroke group were estimated with a complex-samples logistic regression model.
Socio-demographic, anthropometric factors, and clinical comorbidities significantly differed between the stroke and non-stroke groups, except regarding gender and residential area. The EQ-VAS was significantly lower in the stroke than non-stroke group. Anxiety/depression problems significantly lowered EQ-VAS, as did low education level, smoking, mobility and usual activities problems. Also, aging in 1-year increments and cardiovascular disease had a significant effect on lower EQ-VAS in stroke survivors.
People with a stroke have significantly lower HR-QoL than healthy subjects. Therefore, managing depression, smoking, or cardiovascular disease and maintenance of physical function may be priority goals in improving HR-QoL after a stroke.
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Bilateral facial palsy, which is usually combined with other diseases, occurs infrequently. It may imply a life-threatening condition. Therefore, the differential diagnosis of bilateral facial palsy is important. However, the etiology is variable, which makes diagnosis challenging. We report a rare case of progressive bilateral facial palsy as a manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). A 40-year-old male with otitis media and right facial palsy was referred for electroneurography (ENoG), which showed a 7.7% ENoG. Left facial palsy occurred after 2 weeks, and multiple cavitary opacities were noted on chest images. GPA was diagnosed by lung biopsy. His symptoms deteriorated and mononeuropathy multiplex developed. The possibility of systemic disease, such as GPA, should be considered in patients presenting with bilateral facial palsy, the differential diagnosis of which is summarized in this report.
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To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients involved in road traffic accidents according to the New Injury Severity Score (NISS).
In this study, medical records of 1,048 patients admitted at three hospitals located in different regions between January and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients who received inpatient treatments covered by automobile insurance during the period were included. Accidents were classified as pedestrian, driver, passenger, motorcycle, or bicycle; and the severity of injury was assessed by the NISS.
The proportion of pedestrian traffic accident (TA) was the highest, followed by driver, passenger, motorcycle and bicycle TA. The mean NISS was significantly higher in pedestrian and motorcycle TAs and lower in passenger TA. Analysis of differences in mean hospital length of stay (HLS) according to NISS injury severity revealed 4.97±4.86 days in the minor injury group, 8.91±5.93 days in the moderate injury group, 15.46±11.16 days in the serious injury group, 24.73±17.03 days in the severe injury group, and 30.86±34.03 days in the critical injury group (
The study results indicated that higher NISS correlated to longer HLS, fewer home discharges, and increasing mortality. Specialized hospitals for TA patient rehabilitation are necessary to reduce disabilities in TA patients.
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Vernet syndrome involves the IX, X, and XI cranial nerves and is most often attributable to malignancy, aneurysm or skull base fracture. Although there have been several reports on Vernet's syndrome caused by fracture and inflammation, cases related to varicella-zoster virus are rare and have not yet been reported in South Korea. A 32-year-old man, who complained of left ear pain, hoarse voice and swallowing difficulty for 5 days, presented at the emergency room. He showed vesicular skin lesions on the left auricle. On neurologic examination, his uvula was deviated to the right side, and weakness was detected in his left shoulder. Left vocal cord palsy was noted on laryngoscopy. Antibody levels to varicella-zoster virus were elevated in the serum. Electrodiagnostic studies showed findings compatible with left spinal accessory neuropathy. Based on these findings, he was diagnosed with Vernet syndrome, involving left cranial nerves, attributable to varicella-zoster virus.
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